Monday, 5 November 2012

1984: AIRWOLF and BLUE THUNDER in STARLOG MAGAZINE

Both these shows were launched in January 1984, and both were obviously inspired by the big-screen success of the BLUE THUNDER movie.

The TV incarnation of the Thunder was a lacklustre affair, hampered by a bloated cast (including two ex-professional footballers seemingly shoe-horned into the format to satisfy some network contractual obligation), a succession of underwhelming scripts and a sneaking suspicion that the primary motivation was to maximise the studio's investment in the helicopter. Plus points, however, did include James Farentino, Dana Carvey (really) and genre-favourite Richard Lynch as the improbably-named villain P.V.C (really!) in the extended-length opener.

AIRWOLF, on the other hand, was much smarter fare. Donald P. Bellisario, already a producer-with-credability thanks to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, MAGNUM P.I and TALES OF THE GOLD MONKEY, assembled a far more ambitious show, pitching the 'wolf against various internal and external threats. Plus: the helicopter was MUCH cooler than the Thunder!

Both debuted as mid-season replacements but only AIRWOLF booked a return flight on the Fall 1984 schedule. The network, unhappy with the show's soft numbers, ordered the show reworked so that Airwolf tackled more domestic threats and human-interest story lines.

The 'wolf eventually clocked-up three seasons before succumbing to its ratings woes (and behind-the-scenes bust-ups between the show-runners and wayward star Jan Michael-Vincent). Universal needed another season's worth of episodes for a healthy afterlife in syndication so subsidiary USA NETWORK bankrolled another 22 episodes (occasionally known as AIRWOLF II). These final episodes, with a new (cheaper) cast (hello Barry Van Dyke!) were shot on a shoestring budget (and edited on video, enhancing the low-budget aesthetics) in Canada.

This article appeared in STARLOG MAGAZINE issue 81, cover-dated April 1984.

SLOW ROBOT

Welcome to STARLOGGED!
It's a repository, and celebration, of Geek Media (mostly print) from the 'Star Age': that pre-millennial period between, roughly, 1972 (the opening of Marvel UK) and 1999 (the release of The Phantom Menace... and the end of innocence). But, of course, we'll bend the rules when we want to.
I only reproduce long out-of-print items for historical reference. I don't include anything that's currently in-print, is likely to be reprinted or otherwise commercially exploited by the copyright holder.
Comments and contributions are most welcome.